Detroit Lions fill a need in NFL draft

The Lions didn't exactly get their man in the 2013 NFL Draft, but they certainly filled a need.

With the overall fifth pick on Thursday night, the Lions selected DE Ezekiel Ansah from BYU via Ghana.

Most thought the Lions would grab an offensive lineman, but the best ones were gone when it came time for the Lions to pick.

Some like the pick on Ansah because the Lions needed help upfront, especially with the loss of free agent DE Cliff Avril.

Others not so much because they think of Ansah as a project, someone that will take time before he can help the Lions.

The Lions, who lost eight straight games to end the season and missed the playoffs, need good players now.

Ansah, for sure, is gamble.

"I have been playing this game for a few years," Ansah told the media after he was selected. "As for my weaknesses and my strengths...I'm willing to put in hard work."

Normally, a first round pick is expected to jump right in, have impact immediately and be penciled in for years to come.

But Ansah -- who first saw a football game in 2008 -- has limited football experience. He went to BYU with the hopes of playing college basketball. When he didn't make the squad, he turned to football. And his stats weren't that impressive with just 4.5 sacks.

Despite that, GM Martin Mayhew believes he's the right pick for the Lions.

"This is an amazing story," Mayhew said to the media.

Mayhew, after talking to his college head coach, said it was clear Ansah could help despite his lack of experience. "And the one thing he talked about with Ziggy is how much he loves the game, how much he loves to learn about the game, how much passion he has to learn about it," Mayhew said. "We've got the right coaches here to teach him about it."